ProfD

Don't be too obsessed with a green comet that won't be back any time soon. It is a coincidence that earthquakes are erupting on the tail end of the comet. Unfortunately, natural disasters cause major losses of life. The Earth has a way of cleansing itself.

Yep. AOC is a media darling. I would not be surprised if she is propped up to run for POTUS in 2028 or 2032.

The US has the most powerful military on the planet. At their disposal is no shortage of ways of taking that balloon down without putting Americans in harms way. The US could have taken that balloon down a week ago well before it entered US airspace. China is not the world's bully. They are the most powerful nation consisting of people of color. Creating adversaries justifies reinforcing military strength. The US is making China a Boogeyman. At first, it was North Korea. Looks like a pattern. If China was a real threat to the US, they would not be allowed to manufacture a large percentage of US products. Also, Chinese people would not have such a huge presence within the United States. Geopolitics is a dirty game running the world. A relatively handful of people controlling how billions of people live. The media is used to spin all types of narratives in order to maintain the bottom line...system of racism white supremacy.

You're correct in that I do not live in New York City. However, I'm astutely aware of the 1) power of the media and 2) how governments and money works. Again, NYC is spending more $150k taking care of immigrants who were bussed there from Florida and Texas. It is not a lack of funding issue to NYC government. That community center and those other initiatives are not high priorities.

H8ll, we don't really know that it was a Chinese balloon. American citizens cannot fly or walk in restricted spaces without getting shot. I refuse to believe they let a foreign object take a stroll through our skies. They come up with all types of distractions. Divert folks attention from some other BS they're pulling elsewhere.

Human beings would have better luck in life if it was less random. We create patterns and rhythms to increase the probability of desired outcomes. Even with humans best laid plans, random sh8t makes it go sideways.

Just know that our position is a minority around here. Many folks line up on one side of the aisle or the other politically. A classic case of insanity.

Yeah, I knew this situation didn't meet the criteria for Blacks folks to go out and tear the club up. Black folks were in disbelief that it was a wild pack of n8gglets who got caught on video using excessive force.

The cavalier response to these Chinese balloons had me looking sideways: The US didn't want to shoot them down to avoid starting a war. Yeah right. These people play too many games.

Yeah bro, you're used to that brick weather and already know what to do when it drops down to frostbite.

Sista @Chevdove, accept that you saw the comet. Makes no sense to break your negro-noculars or beat yourself for the next 50k years waiting for a funky comet to come back.

Wind chill factor enough to produce temperatures that feel like -45F degrees. Exposure to sub-zero temperatures can result in frostbite within 5-10 minutes. Stay indoors as much as possible. Dress in layers. Leave a water line open to keep pipes from freezing. Bundle up and stay warm. This too shall pass in a couple days.

@richardmurray, action makes things happen. To whomever that community center is important, they need to organize and mobilize in order to get it funded. Ask for the money. Doesn't matter where the money comes from whether it's citizens or benefactors or the government. Make it happen. Sitting on the sidelines grumbling and complaining about what they won't do definitely isn't going to make it happen. Self-defeatism and excuses definitely insures that nothing gets done. Too often, people want pennies to fall from heaven or stand around and wait for somebody else to make it happen. While some folks do benefit from luck and good fortune, I personally don't like those odds. in the words of Soul Brother #1 James Brown, "I don't want nobody to give me nothing, open up the door, and I'll get it myself". Going a step further than that, in the words of the Notorious B.I.G., "kick in the door...". Organization, hustling, hard work, determination and perseverance goes a long way in getting to done. All that being written, it shouldn't be that hard for Mayor Eric Adams to find enough money in the budget to take care of that community center. It would be up to his paymasters allowing him to do it.

I had a chance to see a picture on TV of the comet in its green glory.

Protesting is lobbying without money. The collective populace of NYC is not financially flat broke. Plenty of money is being spent in NYC every day. Not just tourism. Instead of playing the lottery, If every working citizen of NYC gave $1 dollar, a new community center could be built. I'm sure the cost of housing the immigrants that were sent up on buses from Florida and Texas is costing NYC taxpayers more than $350k. There is no shortage of ways to raise money for that community center. My point is the NYC government could pay for it if they had a desire to do so. I don't know how you got the impression that I'm anti-violence. I take it you have not read my position on guns.

The majority in a homogenous society will support a dictator because 1) that individual is one of them and 2) benefits and 3) fear. The aforementioned dictators and throughout the course of history have similar traits. Despite their murderous ways, they were beloved by their subjects. There's no incentive to overthrow a corrupt leader or system if one is a) enjoying benefits under the illusion of freedom and/or b) afraid to die in order to change it.

Sure, victims of police abuse should be paid. However, I refuse to believe New York City could come up with $121M to pay damages for a lawsuit but couldn't scrape up $350k for a community center. Politicians are elected by the people but they seem to work for special interest groups.

No surprise. How the money gets spent shows the priorities. The taxpayers should be protesting if they don't agreee with how their tax dollars are being spent.

So, I've seen some video of that situation. I don't know why the double amputee stabbed the other guy. But, by swinging that knife around at them, he clearly committed suicide by cops. While I still believe the police could have handled that situation differently, that's not how they are trained especially when it comes to Black and Brown people. If that had been a white man, he might be sitting behind bars for the assault but he would definitely still be alive today.

@Rodney campbell, my comment was a tangential response to posts above illustrating that there are folks who in their willingness to die for whatever reason could be utilized to overthrow corrupt leaders. Initially, the military was stood up to protect and serve their country. Dictators and greedy politicians have co-opted the military to enforce their ideologies and to protect and secure their interests. Right now, Russia is pulling criminals out of prison and using them to supplement their military force. Yet, the offensive and subsequent loss of life is totally unnecessary. The Russian military and its citizens are complicit in fulfilling the sociopathic designs of their dictator. The question is why won't they overthrow him.

@Stefan, it's not on the brochure but folks who join the military and law enforcement are signing up to kill or be killed. Most folks make it through those careers without having to make that sacrifice. Folks run around the streets engaging in gangs and/or criminal activities knowing the risks. They might have to kill or be killed too. While these folks aren't strapping bombs and grenades to themselves, they are engaging in careers and activities that could require them to take a bullet. It hasn't clicked with either group of folks that they're willing to die for something less than overthrowing the system of racism white supremacy.

There's less room for negotiation when someone has a weapon of any kind. Police are trained to use deadly force. I don't think lethal force is necessary when the weapon is not a firearm. Folks have been shot and killed while waving a butter knife several feet away from the police. A taser or leg shot would have been sufficient. If police officers were trained in hand to hand combat, they would be able to disarm someone wielding a knife or club. Law enforcement especially in Black and Brown communities have been licensed to kill them. The people need to recognize and believe it.

That story is bizarre. Double amputee jumps out of a wheel chair to chase down and stab someone else. *Hops* back in the wheelchair still brandishing a weapon and threatening law enforcement. His mom says he had been suffering from a lot of depression since losing his legs. Maybe angry man wanted to commit suicide by cops. I'll wait on more information before giving this dude a hashtag.

Absolutely. I've often written here that fear keeps people in check. Most of the folks who want to go to heaven are afraid to die. Living in h8ll isn't that bad. Yet, militaries are filled with people who are willing to sacrifice themselves. Same goes for the streets.

Gotd8mn. That's gonna crush some toes and feet. Recommendation for parents reading the scribe above...steel toe shoes and boots.